Ceriops tagal

Ceriops tagal
In Mozambique
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Rhizophoraceae
Genus: Ceriops
Species: C. tagal
Binomial name
Ceriops tagal
(Pers.) C.B.Rob.[2]
Synonyms[2]

Ceriops tagal (spurred mangrove,[3] Indian mangrove, Afrikaans: Indiese wortelboom, Zulu: Isinkaha[4]) is a mangrove tree species in the family Rhizophoraceae. It is a protected tree in South Africa.[4] The specific epithet tagal is a plant name from the Tagalog language.[5]

Description

Ceriops tagal is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 25 metres (80 ft) with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm (18 in). The growth habit is columnar or multi-stemmed and the tree develops large buttress roots. The radiating anchor roots are sometimes exposed and may loop up in places. The bark is silvery-grey to orangeish-brown, smooth with occasional pustular lenticels. The leaves are in opposite pairs, glossy yellowish-green above, obovate with entire margins, up to 6 cm (2.4 in) long and 3 cm (1.2 in) wide. The flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils; each has a long stalk and a short calyx tube, and parts in fives or sixes. The paired stamens are enclosed in the petals which open explosively when disturbed. The ovoid fruits are up to 3 cm (1 in) long suspended from the shrunken calyx tube. Brown at first, they change colour as they mature and the hypocotyl emerges. The hypocotyl is long and slender, growing to about 35 cm (14 in) long, and is ribbed, a characteristic that distinguishes this mangrove from the smooth-fruited yellow mangrove (Ceriops australis).[5][6]

Distribution and habitat

C. tagal grows naturally in Eastern and Southern Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, India, China, Indo-China, Malesia, Papuasia, the Caroline Islands, New Caledonia and Australia.[1][3] Its habitat is in brackish water areas near tidal lines.[1][5]

Uses

The durable wood is used in house construction. It is also used in the manufacture of charcoal,[5] and is favoured as firewood, being second only to Rhizophora spp., and a dye can be extracted from the bark.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Duke, N.; Kathiresan, K.; Salmo III, S. G.; Fernando, E. S.; Peras, J. R.; Sukardjo, S.; Miyagi, T. (2010). "Ceriops tagal". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Version 2014.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Ceriops tagal (Pers.) C.B.Rob.". The Plant List. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Ceriops tagal (Pers.) C.B.Rob.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 "List of Protected Tree Species" (PDF). Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (South Africa). 7 September 2012 [National Forests Act 1998]. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Madani, L.; Wong, K. M. (1995). "Ceriops tagal (Pers.) C.B.Rob." (PDF). In Soepadmo, E.; Wong, K. M. Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak. (free online from the publisher, lesser resolution scan PDF versions). 1. Forest Research Institute Malaysia. pp. 335–336, 337. ISBN 983-9592-34-3. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  6. ↑ Duke, Norman C. (2006). Australia's Mangroves: The Authoritative Guide to Australia's Mangrove Plants. MER. p. 66. ISBN 978-0-646-46196-0.
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